Bed attachment



- 3 w. J. KELLER 2,050,133

BED ATTACHMENT Filed April 10, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor W. I]: Keller Y Aug. 4, 1936.

W. J. KELLER BED ATTACHMENT Filed April 10, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 1936- w. J. KELLER 7 50,183

BED ATTACHMENT Filed April 10, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet I nventoy W. Iii Keller Attomey V Filed April 10 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I "runmtow- Keller Attomey Patented Aug. 4, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BED ATTACHMENT Wilbur J. Keller, Ephrata, Wash.

Application April 10, 1935, Serial No. 15,680

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in bed attachments and has for its primary object to provide a device or apparatus comprising a novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts through the medium of which conventional beds may be used for the treatment and care of invalids, especially fracture patients.

Another important object of the invention is to provide, in an attachment of the aforementioned character, novel means for changing the sheet on which the patient rests without disturbing or inconveniencing the patient.

Still another important object of the invention is to provide a bed attachment of the character described comprising novel means for raising and lowering the patient when desired and for permitting the patient to repose in different positions without being subjected to discomfort.

Still another important object of the invention is to provide a bed attachment which includes novel means for treatingfractures.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a bed attachment of the character set forth which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly eflicient and reliable in use, compact, light in weight and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:-

Figure 1 is a view in top plan of an attachment constructed in accordance with the present invention, showing the same mounted in position on a conventional bed.

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is a view in top plan of the tubular frame constituting a part of the apparatus, portions of said frame being shown broken away in section.

Figure 4 is a view partially in side elevation and partially in vertical section of one end portion of the attachment, certain parts being omitted.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view, taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view through one end portion of the sheet changing device.

Figure '7 is a view in horizontal section, taken substantially on the line 1-4 of Figure 4.

Figure 8 is a detail view in vertical section, taken substantially on the line 8-8 of Figure '7.

Figure 9 is an end view of the frame. Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a tubular frame designated generally by the reference numeral I, said frame being adapted to be mounted on the spring of a conventional bed 2. The frame I is substantially rectangular in plan and said frame includes side members 3 and end members 4. At intermediate points, the end members 4 of the frame I are enlarged in a manner to form housings 5, the purpose of which will be presently set forth.

Projecting longitudinally from the corner portions of the frame I are extensions 6 from the inner portions of which uprights I rise. Braces 8 extend between the uprights I and the outer ends of the extensions 6. Cross members 9 extend between the pairs of uprights l on the ends of the frame I,

Mounted for vertical adjustment in the housings 5 of the frame I are posts I0 the lower portions of which are threaded, as at II. The lower portions of the posts I0 are also provided with keyways I2 for the reception of keys fixed in the housings 5 for preventing said posts from rotating. Sprocket gears I3 are rotatably mounted in the housings 5 and threadedly engaged with the posts I0. The reference numeral I4 designates an endless sprocket chain which is operable in the tubular frame I and which is trained over the sprocket gears I3 for raising and lowering the posts l0. As illustrated to advantage in Figure 3 of the drawings, a portion of the tubular frame I is cut away or provided with an opening to permit access to be had to the chain l4 for manually actuating said chain. On one of the housings 5 a suitable member I5 is provided for engagement between the chain It and the adjacent sprocket gear I3 for disengaging the chain from said adjacent sprocket gear should it be desired to adjust only one of the posts l0.

The reference numeral I6 designates longitudinal screw shafts which are splined for adjustment in intermediate portions of the posts I0, as at H. Sprocket gears I8 are rotatably supported on the posts I0 and threadedly engaged with the screw shafts I6. Endless sprocket chains I9 are trained over the gears I8 for adjusting the screw shafts I6. The reference numeral 20 designates a sheet of canvas which is supported on the screw shafts I6 above the mattress H of the bed 2. The end portions of the canvas 20 are secured between clamping bars 22 which, in turn, are mounted on the inner ends of the screw shafts Hi. The sheet upon which the patient rests is spread over the canvas 20, said sheet being designated by the ref erence numeral 23. At a suitable point, the canvas 20 is provided with an opening 24 (see Figure 1) for the convenience of the patient.

Mounted on either or both of the posts [0, above the screw shafts it, are horizontally extending arms 25 from which standards 26 rise. The reference numeral 21 designates rods which are mounted for swinging as well as horizontal and vertical sliding adjustment on the standards 26 by suitable set screw secured collars 28. Pulleys 29 (see Figure 2) are mounted on one end of the rods 27 and trained over said pulleys 29 are traction cables 38 having weights 3| secured to one end thereof. Extending between the upper end portions of the posts [0 is a longitudinal bar 32. It may be well to here invite attention to the fact that the posts ID are slidably secured by suitable means, at an intermediate point, to the cross bars 9.

As is thought to be apparent, the elements 25 to 32, inclusive, constitute means for treating fractures. For example, a fractured limb may be suspended beneath the removable bar 32 and one of traction cables 30 connected thereto. When the chain I4 is actuated the canvas 20 with the patient thereon, together with the fracture treating apparatus, will be raised or lowered in unison. Of course, the fracture treating apparatus may be expeditiously removed from the posts 45 when said apparatus is not desired.

The reference numeral 33 designates housings adjacentthe longitudinal edges of the canvas 20. Extending between the housings 33 are rollers 34, 35 and 36, the latter two being journaled in said housings 33. The roller 34 is journaled ofi center on gears 31 which are rotatably mounted in the housings 33. Also extending between the housings 33 and journaled therein is a shaft 38 having pinion gears 39 fixed thereon and engaged with the gears 31. The shaft 38 may be actuated by any suitable means, such as a crank, for adjusting the roller 34 relative to the roller 36. As shown -to advantage in Figure 6 of the drawings, the

canvas 20 is trained over the roller 34, under the roller 35 and then over the roller 36. The sheet 23 which, as hereinbefore stated, rests on the canvas 20, is trained over the roller 34 and connected, at one end, to the roller 35 for winding thereon.

When it is desired to change the sheet, one end portion of said sheet is connected to the roller 35 in a manner to be wound thereon. The gears 31 are then actuated through the medium of the shaft 38 and the pinion gears 39 for bringing the roller 34 to a point adjacentthe roller 36, as seen in Figure 6 of the drawings. The canvas 20 is then tightened or drawn taut by actuating the screw shafts l6 outwardly and said canvas is then elevated through the medium of the chain M. The roller 36 is then actuated by any suitable means, such as a crank, in a manner to move the sheet changing unit or mechanism toward the other end of the bed thus rolling the sheet 23 thereon. It may be well to here state that the roller 35 may be readily removed. After the soiled sheet has been rolled on the roller 35 the canvas 20, with the patient thereon, is lowered and relaxed or slackened and the roller 35, with the soiled sheet thereon, is removed. A fresh or clean sheet is then placed on the roller 35 and said roller 35 is reinserted. The canvas 20 is then again tightened and elevated and the sheet changing mechanism is again moved on the canvas toward its former position, during which operation the fresh sheet is paid out.

Should it be desired to support the patient in a sitting position, one end only of said canvas is raised. This is made possible by disengaging the chain Hi from one of the post actuating sprocket gears I3 through the medium of the member i5. 20

It is believed that the many advantages of a bed attachment constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood,

and although a preferred embodiment of the invention is as illustrated and described, it is to be 25 understood that changes in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

' What is claimed is:

1. A bed attachment comprising a pair of posts mounted on a bed, a flexible sheet mounted between the posts, housings mounted adjacent certain of the opposite edges of the flexible sheet,

gears 'ournaled in the housings, a pair of rollers 3 journaled in the housings, another roller extending between the housings and rotatably mounted off-center on'the gears, the flexible sheet being trained over the last-named roller, under one of the first-named rollers, and then over the other of the first-named rollers, and means for actuating the gears for moving said last-named roller toward or away from said other of the firstnamed rollers.

2. A bed attachment comprising a frame, posts mounted on the frame, a flexible longitudinal suspension between the posts, and a sheet changing mechanism on said flexible suspension comprising a pair of housings adjacent to the longitudinal edges of said flexible suspension, gears journaled in the housings, a pair of rollers journaled in the housings, one of said rollers being removable, another roller extending between the housings and rotatably mounted off center on the gears, the flexible suspension being trained over the last named roller, under said removable roller, and then over the other of the first-named rollers, means for actuating the gears for moving said last-named roller toward or away from said other of the first-named rollers, and means for actuat- 60 

